By Ryan Russell
Stafford County Economic Development
Special to the Tribune

The 2025 Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge is in the books. Stafford County Economic Development hosted the event today at the Stafford County Annex. Six different business concepts were submitted. Nine Students from Tabra Ward’s class at St. John – Hudson Tigers USD 350 participated. Students competed for a chance to win cash prizes with the winner getting to go to the Kansas Entrepreneur Challenge in Manhattan April 16th and 17th.

1st Place: $750 and representing Stafford County in Manhattan

B&D Bakery: Lilly Brummer (Tara Dowling was not present)

2nd Place: $500

Spud Bros: Garrett Dunn and William Martin

3rd Place: $250

Smash’ems: Tanner Mawhirter

Other participants:

Gourmet Popcorn: Bre Fisher and Chris Fernandez

Sweet Cravings: Ellie Rausch

T-Wilds Wild Cookies: Teresa Miller

Judges: Jennifer Gleason – 21 Central Extension, Tiffany Nixon – Network Kansas, and Angela Petersen – Principal at St. John – Hudson Tigers USD 350 and board member at Stafford County Economic Development Inc.

Tabra Ward will also receive a $250 to be used for class materials. Every year the teacher with the winner team or student gets this. We want to thank Tabra for her continued partnership with this event and look forward to many more years.

Thanks to Sarah Hampton and Carolyn Dunn of Stafford County Economic Development Inc. for their help with the day before and day of setup.

Thanks to our E-Community Partnership with Network Kansas and new partner in the YEC competition 21 Central Extension. Thanks for your support and we look forward to doing more of this in the future.